Vietnamese National Sentenced to Six Years Over Kiryu Credit Union Robbery; Court Says Replica Weapons Still Caused Real Terror
This article organizes publicly available information into a single account. Where it describes an arrest or an ongoing investigation, that reflects only one stage of criminal procedure and does not mean guilt has been established (the presumption of innocence applies). We will update this article as new information becomes available, including the outcome of prosecution, non-prosecution, or trial. This article is not intended to unfairly disparage any individual, group, nationality, ethnicity, or belief, and aims to provide objective, fact-based information.
The Maebashi District Court, presided over by Judge Masayuki Takahashi, sentenced Luu Huu Phuc, 36, a Vietnamese national working in staffing services in Kiryu City, to six years in prison on October 14, 2026, on charges including robbery. Prosecutors had sought seven years. According to Gunma Television, the defendant entered the Umeda sub-branch of Kiryu Shinkin Bank's Hommachi Branch in Umeda-cho, Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture, in February 2026, displayed a bomb-like object, threatened an employee at the point of a model gun, and took 2 million yen in cash. He had admitted the charges at his first hearing.
In delivering the ruling, the judge said that threatening people with objects resembling a bomb or a handgun inflicts intense fear on victims even when the items are replicas, making the crime a serious one. He also described the motive — having lost his job and seeking a lump sum of cash — as extremely self-serving.
Current status: Whether the defense will appeal remains unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Editorial Perspective
No decision on indictment has been made at this stage, so this article reflects information from the investigative phase. An arrest is only one step in criminal procedure and does not establish guilt (the presumption of innocence). According to National Police Agency and Ministry of Justice statistics, the number of Penal Code cases involving foreign nationals visiting Japan has risen for two consecutive years since 2023, but remains below its mid-2000s peak (related article). A single case does not necessarily reflect the broader statistical trend; further developments are worth watching.